Exclusive human milk diet is associated with lower risk of motor function impairment at three years of corrected age

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the association between an exclusive human milk diet (EHMD) and motor function impairment at three years of corrected age among infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study between 2018 and 2021. We assigned to the EHMD group infants who received an EHMD for ≥75% of the days between the first day of diet fortification and 33 6/7 weeks postmenstrual age. We used inverse propensity scores to balance potential confounders and developed a mixed-effects logistic regression model to assess the association.

Results: After adjusting for demographics and morbidities, an EHMD was associated with a reduced risk of motor function impairment, with an odds ratio of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.56-0.98, p = 0.036).

Conclusions: An EHMD is associated with a decrease in the odds of early childhood motor function impairment among infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.